German word

Eiszeit

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈaɪ̯sˌtsaɪ̯t/

Meaning

  • feminine nounice age

Example

Früher gab es mehrere Eiszeiten.

In the past, there were several ice ages.

Illustration for Eiszeit (ice age)

More examples

Forscher finden Relikte aus der Eiszeit in Sedimentschichten.

Researchers find relics from the ice age in sediment layers.

Core concept

A vast sheet of ice covering land during a long, cold chapter of Earth's history.

Common phrases

  • in der Eiszeit

    in the ice age

  • am Ende der Eiszeit

    at the end of the ice age

  • Relikte aus der Eiszeit

    relics from the ice age

Similar words

Kaltzeit: An extended era of persistently low temperatures.
Glazial: A division of an ice age characterized by widespread glaciers and ice sheets.
Interglazial: A warmer period separating two colder glacial intervals.

Definition in German

Geologische Periode, in der das Klima deutlich kälter ist und weitreichende Eismassen entstehen.

Word origin

Eiszeit is a compound of Eis ('ice') and Zeit ('time' or 'period'), literally meaning an 'ice period' and serving as the geological term for an ice age.

Usage tips

  • Eiszeit is feminine, so standard phrases include die Eiszeit, in der Eiszeit, and während der Eiszeit; its plural is Eiszeiten.

Other meanings

  • glacial periodnoun

Opposites

  • Interglazialinterglacialnoun
  • Warmzeitwarm periodnoun

Related words

  • Eiszeitalterice agenoun
  • eiszeitlichglacialadjective

Word lists with this word